Blood control catheter valve employing actuator with flexible retention arms

ABSTRACT

The present invention extends to a blood control catheter valve for use in a catheter adapter. The blood control catheter value employs an actuator for bypassing a septum to open the blood control catheter valve. The actuator includes flexible retention arms positioned on one end which retract into the body of the actuator while the end of the actuator passes through the septum, and then expand outwardly to maintain the actuator positioned within the septum. This design facilitates the manufacturing of catheter adapters (as well as blood control catheter valves and other components that attach to the catheter adapter) because the design can reduce the tolerance requirements of such components. Further, the design provides a reliable blood control catheter valve that does not require the catheter adapter to be increased in size to accommodate the valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to catheters, such asintravenous (“IV”) catheters, and more particularly to blood controlvalves for use in catheters.

Catheters are widely used throughout the medical community for a widerange of procedures and treatments. Catheters are commonly used for avariety of infusion therapies. Catheters are used for infusing fluid,such as normal saline solution, various medicaments, and totalparenteral nutrition, into a patient, withdrawing blood from a patient,or monitoring various parameters of the patient's vascular system.

A common type of IV catheter is an over-the-needle peripheral IVcatheter. As its name implies, an over-the-needle catheter is mountedover an introducer needle having a sharp distal tip. At least the distalportion of the catheter tightly engages the outer surface of the needleto prevent peelback of the catheter and thus facilitate insertion of thecatheter into the blood vessel. The catheter and the introducer needleare assembled so that the distal tip of the introducer needle extendsbeyond the distal tip of the catheter with the bevel of the needlefacing up away from the patient's skin. The catheter and introducerneedle are generally inserted at a shallow angle through the patient'sskin into a blood vessel.

The process of placing a catheter requires careful balance and controlover the catheter. Typically an IV catheter will be incorporated into acatheter assembly. The catheter assembly may include various componentsto aid in the use and placement of the IV catheter. Typically a catheterassembly will provide a gripping surface to aid in griping andcontrolling the IV catheter during insertion. The gripping surface willcommonly provide opposing surfaces whereby a user may grasp and hold thedevice during insertion.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a common IV catheter 100. Catheter 100includes a catheter adapter 101 and a needle shield 103. A needle 102 isinitially contained within a catheter extending out from catheteradapter 101. In some current IV catheters, catheter adapter 101 includesa septum through which needle 102 extends. The septum maintains a sealaround needle 102 while the needle is inserted into the patient'svasculature so that blood cannot escape through catheter adapter 101where it may come in contact with the external environment.

Once the catheter is placed inside the patient's vasculature, needle 102can be withdrawn from catheter adapter 101 into needle shield 103. Onceneedle 102 is withdrawn, the septum can reseal to prevent blood fromflowing out of catheter adapter 101 until another device (which usuallyhas a male luer connector) is attached to the catheter adapter andseparates the septum to allow fluid flow to or from the other device.

In some IV catheters, the catheter adapter includes an actuator that isforced through the septum when another device is attached to thecatheter adapter. In other words, after the needle has been removed fromthe catheter adapter, the septum is again opened when a connector of theother device forces the actuator through the septum.

One problem that exists with current IV catheters that employ anactuator is that the actuator must be designed to remain within thecatheter on the proximal side of the septum until activation (e.g. untilthe other device forces the actuator through the septum). Some designsof actuators for use in catheter adapters employ relatively small fixedarms that extend laterally from the actuator and snap into a smallgroove in the internal wall of the catheter adapter. To accommodate thisdesign, the actuator and catheter adapter must be manufactured withtight tolerances. The tight tolerances are required to ensure that thefixed arms will fit into the grooves. Manufacturing these componentswith tight tolerances is oftentimes undesirable. For example, the costor difficulty of manufacturing these components with tight tolerancesmay be burdensome or impractical in many cases.

Another problem with such designs is that the actuator, once forcedthrough the septum, is only held in place by the friction between theseptum and the nose of the actuator. In other words, the actuator isonly held within the septum by the force that the septum applies aroundthe actuator. No other structure is provided to ensure that the actuatordoes not slip back out from within the septum. Because of this, it ispossible that the actuator may be disengaged from the septum which caninhibit the flow of fluids through the catheter adapter or otherwiseaffect the performance of the catheter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention extends to a blood control catheter valve for usein a catheter adapter. The blood control catheter valve employs anactuator for bypassing a septum to open the blood control cathetervalve. The actuator includes flexible retention arms positioned on oneend which retract into the body of the actuator while the end of theactuator passes through the septum, and then expand outwardly tomaintain the actuator positioned within the septum.

This design facilitates the manufacturing of catheter adapters (as wellas blood control catheter valves and other components that attach to thecatheter adapter) because the design can reduce the tolerancerequirements of such components. In other words, because the designemploys flexible retention arms, the tolerance between the catheteradapter and the actuator is less important than when fixed retentionarms are employed (i.e. because the flexible retention arms can flex toaccount for variances in the distance between the internal wall of thecatheter adapter and the actuator). Further, the design provides areliable blood control catheter valve that does not require the catheteradapter to be increased in size to accommodate the valve.

In a first embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a bloodcontrol catheter valve for use in a catheter adapter. The blood controlcatheter valve comprises a septum configured to be retained within acatheter adapter, and an actuator configured to pass partially throughthe septum to open the blood control catheter valve. The actuatorincludes one or more flexible retention arms that are biased in anoutward position. The one or more flexible retention arms fold inwardlyas the actuator passes through the septum and return to the outwardposition after the one or more flexible retention arms have passedthrough the septum thereby retaining the actuator within the septum.

In some embodiments, prior to the actuator passing partially through theseptum, the one or more flexible retention arms are biased outwardlyinto one or more recesses formed in an internal wall of the catheteradapter thereby retaining the actuator within the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the actuator is forced partially through the septumwhen a device is connected to the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the device has a male luer connector that insertsinto the catheter adapter to force the actuator partially through theseptum as the device is connected to the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the actuator includes one or more channels formedin an exterior surface of the actuator. The one or more channels areconfigured to receive the one or more flexible retention arms when theone or more flexible retention arms are folded inwardly.

In some embodiments, the one or more channels have a depth such thatwhen the one or more flexible retention arms are folded into the one ormore channels, an exterior surface of the one or more flexible retentionarms is flush with an exterior surface of the actuator.

In some embodiments, the actuator has a length that is less than a firstlength of the catheter adapter. The first length is the length between aproximal end of the catheter adapter and the position of the septumwithin the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the actuator includes an internal channel thatextends through the length of the actuator. The internal channel forms apath for fluid flow through the actuator.

In some embodiments, the one or more flexible retention arms comprisetwo flexible retention arms formed on opposite sides of the actuator.

In some embodiments, the actuator includes one or more protrusions at aproximal end of the actuator. The one or more protrusions form a surfaceagainst which a device forces when the device is inserted into thecatheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the catheter adapter is an intravenous catheteradapter.

In a second embodiment, the present invention is implemented as anintravenous catheter assembly comprising a catheter adapter, a septumcontained within the catheter adapter, and an actuator configured topass partially through the septum to enable fluid flow through thecatheter adapter. The actuator includes one or more flexible retentionarms that are biased in an outward position. The one or more flexibleretention arms fold inwardly as the actuator passes through the septumand return to the outward position after the one or more flexibleretention arms have passed through the septum thereby retaining theactuator within the septum.

In some embodiments, the intravenous catheter assembly includes a needlecontained within the catheter adapter, the needle passing through theactuator and the septum.

In some embodiments, the intravenous catheter assembly includes a needleshield attached to the catheter adapter, the needle shield configured toretain the needle after the needle is retracted from the catheteradapter.

In some embodiments, the septum is configured to reseal after the needleis retracted from the catheter adapter thereby preventing fluid flowthrough the catheter adapter until the actuator passes partially throughthe septum.

In some embodiments, prior to the actuator passing partially through theseptum, the one or more flexible retention arms are biased outwardlyinto one or more recesses formed in an internal wall of the catheteradapter thereby retaining the actuator within the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the actuator is forced partially through the septumwhen a device is connected to the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the device has a male luer connector that insertsinto the catheter adapter to force the actuator partially through theseptum as the device is connected to the catheter adapter.

In some embodiments, the actuator includes one or more channels formedin an exterior surface of the actuator. The one or more channels areconfigured to receive the one or more flexible retention arms when theone or more flexible retention arms are folded inwardly.

In a third embodiment, the present invention is implemented as acatheter adapter having a blood control catheter valve. The bloodcontrol catheter valve comprises a septum positioned within the catheteradapter, and an actuator configured to pass partially through the septumto open the blood control catheter valve. The actuator includes one ormore flexible retention arms that are biased in an outward position. Theone or more flexible retention arms fold inwardly as the actuator passesthrough the septum and return to the outward position after the one ormore flexible retention arms have passed through the septum therebyretaining the actuator within the septum. Prior to the actuator passingpartially through the septum, the one or more flexible retention armsare biased outwardly into one or more recesses formed in an internalwall of the catheter adapter thereby retaining the actuator within thecatheter adapter.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Thefeatures and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. These and other features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent from the following description andappended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention asset forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a common IV catheter that includes acatheter adapter, a needle, and a needle shield;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an actuator that can be used within ablood control catheter valve in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a cross-sectional perspective view of a catheteradapter to demonstrate how the actuator of FIG. 2 is used to open theblood control catheter valve; and

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a cross-sectional side view of the catheteradapter shown in FIGS. 3A-3C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention extends to a blood control catheter valve for usein a catheter adapter. The blood control catheter value employs anactuator for bypassing a septum to open the blood control cathetervalve. The actuator includes flexible retention arms positioned on oneend which retract into the body of the actuator while the end of theactuator passes through the septum, and then expand outwardly tomaintain the actuator positioned within the septum.

This design facilitates the manufacturing of catheter adapters (as wellas blood control catheter valves and other components that attach to thecatheter adapter) because the design can reduce the tolerancerequirements of such components. In other words, because the designemploys flexible retention arms, the tolerance between the catheteradapter and the actuator is less important than when fixed retentionarms are employed (i.e. because the flexible retention arms can flex toaccount for variances in the distance between the internal wall of thecatheter adapter and the actuator). Further, the design provides areliable blood control catheter valve that does not require the catheteradapter to be increased in size to accommodate the valve.

In a first embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a bloodcontrol catheter valve for use in a catheter adapter. The blood controlcatheter valve comprises a septum configured to be retained within acatheter adapter, and an actuator configured to pass partially throughthe septum to open the blood control catheter valve. The actuatorincludes one or more flexible retention arms that are biased in anoutward position. The one or more flexible retention arms fold inwardlyas the actuator passes through the septum and return to the outwardposition after the one or more flexible retention arms have passedthrough the septum thereby retaining the actuator within the septum.

In a second embodiment, the present invention is implemented as anintravenous catheter assembly comprising a catheter adapter, a septumcontained within the catheter adapter, and an actuator configured topass partially through the septum to enable fluid flow through thecatheter adapter. The actuator includes one or more flexible retentionarms that are biased in an outward position. The one or more flexibleretention arms fold inwardly as the actuator passes through the septumand return to the outward position after the one or more flexibleretention arms have passed through the septum thereby retaining theactuator within the septum.

In a third embodiment, the present invention is implemented as acatheter adapter having a blood control catheter valve. The bloodcontrol catheter valve comprises a septum positioned within the catheteradapter, and an actuator configured to pass partially through the septumto open the blood control catheter valve. The actuator includes one ormore flexible retention arms that are biased in an outward position. Theone or more flexible retention arms fold inwardly as the actuator passesthrough the septum and return to the outward position after the one ormore flexible retention arms have passed through the septum therebyretaining the actuator within the septum. Prior to the actuator passingpartially through the septum, the one or more flexible retention armsare biased outwardly into one or more recesses formed in an internalwall of the catheter adapter thereby retaining the actuator within thecatheter adapter.

The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will bebest understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like referencenumbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will bereadily understood that the components of the present invention, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in thefigures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed,but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an actuator 200 that can be used withina blood control catheter valve in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the invention. The design of actuator 200 is an exampleof how the present invention facilitates the manufacturing of catheteradapters (as well as blood control catheter valves and other componentsthat attach to the catheter adapter). This example design can reduce thetolerance requirements of such components by employing flexibleretention arms which minimize the importance of the tolerance betweenthe catheter adapter and the actuator.

Actuator 200 includes a body 203 through which a channel 205 is formed.Channel 205 allows a needle to be inserted through actuator 200 and alsoallows fluid to flow through actuator 200 once the blood controlcatheter valve is open. Actuator can be formed of any suitable material.In many cases, actuator 200 can be formed of a material that provides adegree of flexibility as will be further described below.

Body 203 also includes channels 203 a (only one of which is shown inFIG. 2) and flexible retention arms 201 which are biased outwardly andconfigured to fold down into channels 203 a. Because flexible retentionarms 201 can fold into channels 203 a, the overall diameter of theportion of actuator 200 that passes through a septum is not increased(i.e. arms 201 can fold into channels 203 a so that the outer surface ofarms 201 are flush with the outer surface of body 203). In some cases,arms 201 can be flexible due to the material from which actuator 200 ismade. For example, plastic based material can be used so that arms 201can be molded from the same material as the remainder of actuator 200while still retaining a degree of flexibility to provide the benefitsdescribed below.

Other materials can also be used. For example, certain metals canprovide an appropriate degree of flexibility to allow actuator 200 to beformed as a single piece. Also, it is feasible that arms 201 can beformed as separate components that are attached to the body of actuator200 in some manner that allows arms 201 to remain flexible although thisapproach is often not preferred due to the increased difficulty ofmanufacturing an actuator in this manner.

Actuator 200 can also include protrusions 206 which extend radially frombody 203. Protrusions 206 can provide a greater surface area againstwhich another component (e.g. a male luer) can push to force actuator200 through a septum as will be further described below. Protrusions 206can also assist in aligning actuator 200 within the catheter adapter.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a cross-sectional perspective view of a catheteradapter 300 that includes a blood control catheter valve consisting ofactuator 200 and septum 301, and male luer 350. Catheter adapter 300 canbe similar to catheter adapter 101 shown in FIG. 1 or similar to manyother types of catheter adapters. In other words, the blood controlcatheter valve of the present invention can be used in virtually anycatheter adapter. Catheter adapter 300 includes a catheter 302 that canbe inserted into the vasculature of a patient. Septum 301 is positionedwithin the interior of catheter adapter 300. In many cases, catheteradapter 300 is supplied initially with a needle (e.g. as shown inFIG. 1) that passes through septum 301 and catheter 302 and is used toinsert catheter 302 into the patient's vasculature.

FIG. 3A illustrates the state of catheter adapter 300 before male luer350 has been connected. Catheter adapter 300 can be in this state aftercatheter 302 has been inserted into the vasculature of a patient (e.g.after a needle has been withdrawn from catheter adapter 300), but priorto another component being connected to catheter adapter 300. In thisstate, actuator 200 is positioned to the proximal side of septum 301.Septum 301 is therefore closed in this state thereby preventing bloodfrom flowing from the patient's vasculature out through catheter adapter300.

FIG. 3B illustrates the state of catheter adapter 300 while male luer350 is being forced into catheter adapter 300. As shown, actuator 200 isconfigured such that male luer 350 forces actuator 200 through septum301 (which may include a small slit) as male luer 350 is advanced intocatheter adapter 300. When actuator 200 is forced through septum 301,arms 201 fold towards body 203 and into channels 203 a. In this way,actuator 200 can easily be forced through septum 301. At this point,channel 205 of actuator 200 allows fluids to flow from (e.g. blood) orinto (e.g. medications) catheter 302.

FIG. 3C illustrates the state of catheter adapter 300 after male luer350 has been fully inserted into catheter adapter 300. As shown,actuator 200 has been forced sufficiently through septum 301 that arms201 have sprung back to an outward position. In this position, arms 201prevent actuator 200 from passing back through septum 301.

FIG. 4A-4C illustrate a cross-sectional side view of the catheteradapter shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. FIG. 4A illustrates recess 310 that can beformed in catheter adapter 300. Arms 201 extend into recess 310 prior toactivation of the valve thereby preventing actuator 200 from falling outof catheter adapter 300. FIG. 4A also shows that, prior to activation,blood can flow into catheter adapter 300 up to septum 301 which blocksthe blood flow from passing out through the other end of catheteradapter 300. In this way, after catheter 302 is inserted into apatient's vasculature, the clinician need not worry about blood flowingout through catheter adapter 300 before another device is attached toopen the blood control catheter valve.

FIG. 4B illustrates the position of actuator 200 while actuator 200 isbeing advanced through septum 301 (male luer 350 is not shown). Asshown, arms 201 are folded down into channels 203 a allowing actuator200 to easily pass through septum 301.

FIG. 4C illustrates the position of actuator 200 after actuator 200 hasbeen forced through septum 301 sufficiently to allow arms 201 to expandoutwardly. In this position, arms 201 block actuator 200 from returningback through septum 301.

The design of actuator 200 provides various benefits. For example, acatheter adapter with a blood control valve generally must besufficiently long to accommodate the length of the male luer connectorand to accommodate the components of the valve as well as any movementrequired by the components to open the valve. Actuator 200 can be sizedto be initially secured entirely within the catheter adapter on theproximal side of the septum (e.g. the right side as shown in FIG. 4A).

This reduced length is also beneficial because it minimizes the requiredlength of the catheter adapter on the distal side of the septum (e.g.the left side in FIG. 4C). In other words, the catheter adapter musthave sufficient length on the distal side of the septum to allowactuator 200 to advance sufficiently for the male luer to be fullyinserted into the catheter adapter. This distance required to fullyinset the male luer is oftentimes not consistent from device to device.Accordingly, the use of arms 201 facilitate the securing of actuator 200within the septum even when actuator 200 is not advanced the samedistance.

For example, in FIG. 4C, actuator 200 is shown as having been advancedso that arms 201 are positioned substantially distally from the septum(i.e. there is a gap between the septum and the arms). However, arms 201can still provide the same securing function even when actuator 200 isadvanced a shorter distance than shown in FIG. 4C (e.g. when actuator200 is advanced just enough to allow arms 201 to expand after passingthrough the septum). This flexibility makes actuator 200 more reliablegiven the variations in catheter adapter and male luer lengths.

The design of actuator 200 also provides the benefit of reducing thetolerances required for the diameters of the actuator and the catheteradapter. For example, because arms 201 are biased outwardly, variationsin the internal diameter of the catheter adapter (or more specifically,the internal diameter of recess 310) do not affect the ability of arms201 to secure actuator 200 within the catheter adapter prior toactivation. This outward bias of arms 201 also allows arms 201 to secureactuator 200 within the septum regardless of the internal diameter orshape of the catheter adapter.

In short, the design of actuator 200 allows blood control cathetervalves to be manufactured with much looser tolerances than required bymany current designs. By loosening the tolerance requirements, actuator200 makes the blood control catheter valve of the present inventioneasier to manufacture and more reliable even with the variations in sizeof common catheter adapters and male luer connectors.

Although the above description has used the example of a male luerconnector, the blood control catheter valve of the present invention canalso be configured to work with another type of connector that insertsinto the catheter adapter. Also, the blood control catheter valve can beused within many different types of catheter adapters, and can be partof a prepackaged IV catheter assembly that includes a needle and needleshield (e.g. similar to catheter 100 shown in FIG. 1). In such cases,the needle can initially pass through channel 205 while actuator 200 ispositioned as shown in FIG. 4A.

Further, although actuator 200 has been described as including two arms201, an actuator in accordance with the present invention can equallyhave one or more arms 201 while still providing the desired functions.Also, although actuator 200 has been described as including channels 203a, actuator 200 can also be configured without channels 203 a. In suchcases, arms 201 can fold down against an exterior wall of body 203 whileactuator 200 passes through septum 301. However, it is generallypreferable to include a channel 203 a for each arm 201 to facilitate theforcing of actuator 200 through septum 301.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A catheter assembly comprising: a catheteradapter having a proximal end that includes a proximal opening, a distalend that includes a distal opening, an inner wall that extends betweenthe proximal opening and the distal opening, and a lumen formed by theinner wall, wherein the catheter adapter is configured to receive aneedle that includes a distal tip; a flexible septum configured to beretained within a catheter adapter; and an actuator configured to passpartially through the septum to open a blood control catheter valve,wherein the actuator includes multiple proximally-extending flexibleretention arms that are biased in an outward position, wherein theflexible retention arms contact the inner wall of the catheter adapterwhen the flexible retention arms are in the outward position, whereinthe flexible retention arms fold inwardly as the actuator moves distallythrough the septum and return to the outward position after the flexibleretention arms have moved distally through the septum thereby retainingthe actuator within the septum.
 2. The catheter assembly of claim 1,wherein, prior to the actuator passing partially through the septum, theflexible retention arms are biased outwardly into one or more recessesformed in the inner wall of the catheter adapter thereby retaining theactuator within the catheter adapter.
 3. The catheter assembly of claim1, wherein the actuator is configured to pass partially through theseptum to open the blood control catheter valve when a separate deviceis inserted distally into the catheter adapter, wherein the separatedevice has a male luer connector that inserts into the catheter adapterto contact and force the actuator partially through the septum as theseparate device is connected to the catheter adapter.
 4. The catheterassembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator includes one or moreprotrusions at a proximal end of the actuator, the one or moreprotrusions forming a surface against which the separate device contactsthe actuator.
 5. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuatorincludes one or more channels formed in an exterior surface of theactuator, the one or more channels configured to receive the flexibleretention arms when the flexible retention arms are folded inwardly. 6.The catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein the one or more channels havea depth such that, when the flexible retention arms are folded into theone or more channels, an exterior surface of the flexible retention armsis flush with an exterior surface of the actuator.
 7. The catheterassembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator has a length that is less thana first length of the catheter adapter, the first length being thelength between a proximal end of the catheter adapter and the positionof the septum within the catheter adapter.
 8. The catheter assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the flexible retention arms comprise two flexibleretention arms formed on opposite sides of the actuator.
 9. The catheterassembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter adapter is an intravenouscatheter adapter.
 10. An intravenous catheter assembly comprising: acatheter adapter having a proximal end that includes a proximal opening,a distal end that includes a distal opening, an inner wall that extendsbetween the proximal opening and the distal opening, and a lumen formedby the inner wall, wherein the catheter adapter is configured to receivea needle that includes a distal tip; a flexible septum contained withinthe lumen of the catheter adapter, the septum dividing the lumen into aproximal chamber and a distal chamber, the septum preventing fluid fromflowing between the proximal chamber and the distal chamber; and anactuator positioned within the proximal chamber, the actuator includingan internal channel that extends through a length of the actuator, theinternal channel forming a path for fluid flow through the actuator, theactuator being configured to pass partially through the septum when aseparate device is inserted distally into the catheter adapter tothereby open a fluid pathway through the septum between the distalchamber and proximal chamber, the actuator including multiple flexibleretention arms that extend proximally from a distal end of the actuator,the flexible retention arms being biased in an outward position, theflexible retention arms contacting the inner wall of the catheteradapter when the flexible retention arms are in the outward position,the flexible retention arms folding inwardly as the actuator movesdistally through the septum and returning to the outward position afterthe flexible retention arms have moved distally through the septumthereby retaining the actuator within the septum and maintaining thefluid pathway through the septum.
 11. The intravenous catheter assemblyof claim 10, further comprising: a needle contained within the catheteradapter, the needle passing through the internal channel of the actuatorand through the septum.
 12. The intravenous catheter assembly of claim11, further comprising: a needle shield attached to the catheteradapter, the needle shield configured to retain the needle after theneedle is retracted from the catheter adapter.
 13. The intravenouscatheter assembly of claim 11, wherein the septum is configured toreseal after the needle is retracted from the catheter adapter therebypreventing fluid flow through the catheter adapter until the actuatorpasses partially through the septum.
 14. The intravenous catheterassembly of claim 10, wherein, prior to the actuator passing partiallythrough the septum, the flexible retention arms are biased outwardlyinto one or more recesses formed in an internal wall of the catheteradapter thereby retaining the actuator within the catheter adapter. 15.The intravenous catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the separatedevice has a male luer connector that inserts into the catheter adapterto contact and force the actuator partially through the septum as theseparate device is connected to the catheter adapter.
 16. Theintravenous catheter assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuator includesone or more channels formed in an exterior surface of the actuator, theone or more channels configured to receive the flexible retention armswhen the flexible retention arms are folded inwardly.
 17. A catheteradapter having a blood control catheter valve, the blood controlcatheter valve comprising: an inner wall that extends between a proximalopening and a distal opening of the catheter adapter; a flexible septumpositioned within a lumen of the catheter adapter, the septum dividingthe lumen into a proximal chamber and a distal chamber, the septumpreventing fluid from flowing between the proximal chamber and thedistal chamber; and an actuator positioned within the proximal chamber,the actuator including an internal channel that extends through a lengthof the actuator, the internal channel forming a path for fluid flowthrough the actuator, the actuator being configured to pass partiallythrough the septum when a separate device is inserted distally into thecatheter adapter to thereby open a fluid pathway through the septumbetween the distal chamber and proximal chamber, the actuator includingmultiple proximally-extending flexible retention arms that are biased inan outward position, the flexible retention arms folding inwardly as theactuator passes distally through the septum and returning to the outwardposition after the one or more flexible retention arms have passeddistally through the septum thereby retaining the actuator within theseptum and maintaining the fluid pathway through the septum, wherein,prior to the actuator passing partially through the septum, the one ormore flexible retention arms are biased outwardly into one or morerecesses formed in the inner wall of the catheter adapter therebyretaining the actuator within the catheter adapter, wherein the flexibleretention arms contact an inner wall of the catheter adapter when theflexible retention arms are in the outward position, wherein thecatheter adapter is configured to receive a needle that includes adistal tip.